The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-26

was in there had certainly broken in.
My next thoughts were of MIR. Dick
Hardhead. He had heard me say
that my load was all sold out and, OIL
course, he supposed that l had some
money with me. And IN this he was
right, for had over 1000. l also
thought he meant to leave the cart
when he had supposed l had reached
a safe place and then either creep over
and shoot me or knock me down. OF
perhaps slip out and ask for a ride, OF
something of that sort. All this passed
through my mind by the time | had
got rod from the hole.
"Now | never make it a point to
brag of myself, but yet l have seen a
great Zeal of the world and | am
pretty cool and clear headed under
difficulty. In very few moments my
resolution was formed. My horse was
now knee deep in the mud and | knew
| could slip off without any noise. So
| drew my revolver-I never travel in
that country without tit is a six shot
one and sure fire. | drew this and
having twined the reins about the whip
stock | carefully slipped down into the
mud, and as the cart passed on l went
behind it and examined the hasp. The
door of the cart lets down and is fas-
tened by a hasp which fits over a
staple and is then secured by a pad
lock. The paddock was gone and the
hasp was secured in its place by a bit
of pine stick, SO that slight push from
within could break it. My wheel
wrench hung in a leather bucket on
the side of the cart and quickly took
it out and slipped it into the staple the
iron handle just sliding down.
"Now | had HIM. My cart was al
most new, with stout frame of white
oak and made on purpose for hard
usage, heavy loads and service. l did
not believe that any ordinary man
could break out. | got on my cart as
noiselessly as l got off, and then urged
my horse on, still keeping my pistol
handy. | knew that at the distance of
half mile further should come to a
good hard road and allowed my hors e
to pick his own way through this mud.
1t was about ten minutes after that |
heard a motion in the cart, followed by
grinding noise as though some heavy
force were being applied to the door.
This continued some moments and then
came heavy thump as though the sole
of a boot was applied to the door. l
said nothing but the idea struck me
that the william might try to Judge about
where sat and shoot up through the
top Of the cart at me, so 1 sat down on
the footboard.
"Of course knew that my unex-
pected passenger was villain, for he
must have been awake ever since |
started and nothing else in the world
but absolute villainy would have caused
him to remain quiet so long in this par
ticular place. The humping and push
ing grew louder and louder, and pretty
soon l heard human voice:
"'Let me out of this : he cried, and
he yelled pretty loud.
II lifted my head up so as make him
think that | was sitting in my usual
place, and then asked him what he was
doing in there.
"'Let me out and I'll tell ye, he re-
piled.
"'Tell me what you're in there for ?
| said.
81 got in here to sleep on your rags,
he answered.
"'How'd va get in?' l asked.
"'Let me get out or I'll shoot ye
through the head, he yelled.
lust at that moment my horses fee
struck the hard road, and l knew thai
the rest of the route to Jackson woulG
be good going. The distance would be
twelve miles. | slipped back upon the
footboard and took the whip. l hac
the same horse then I've got now
tall, stout, powerful bay mare, and yor
may believe there's some 90 in her
At any rate, she struck gait then that
even astonished me. She had gooC
mess of oats, the night air was COO
and she felt like going. In fifteen min
utes we cleared the woods, and away
we went at great pace.
"rhe chap inside kept yelling to bs
let out, and threatening to shoot if
didn't let him out Finally he stopped
and in few minutes came the report.
of a pistol-one. two, three four, one
right after the other-and | heard the
balls whiz over my head. If had beer
on my seat one of these balls, if moi
two of them, must have gone through
me. popped up my head again and
gave yell and then deep groan anc
said oh, save me | am deaC
man! Then | made a shuffling nois,
as though | we're falling of, and final,
off, and finally settled down agian Oh
the footboard, | now urged the ole
mare by giving her an occasional polk
with the butt of the whip, and she wen
along faster than ever.
''rhe man called out to me twice
more pretty soon after this, and as he
got no reply he made some tremendou
endeavors to break the door open. ane
as this failed him he made several at
tempts upon the top. But l had nj
fears of his doing anything there, 70
the top of my cart is framed with dove
tails and each sleeper bolted to tn